I believe the role of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will increase even further in the coming period. In modern times, the concept of security cannot be limited to military security alone. The security of energy sources, transport links, and economic ties is also an essential component of overall security.
Sea-news.az reports that Turkish political expert Kadir Ugur Yilmaz stated this in an interview with AZERTAC.
According to him, energy and transport security are closely interconnected.
“In addition to the secure delivery of energy from its production site to consumption points, the free and secure movement of goods and people must also be ensured. Turkey-Azerbaijan relations should not be evaluated solely within the framework of political ties. These relations form a strategic energy and transport connection linking the Caspian Sea to Anatolia, and Anatolia to Europe. Projects such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, TANAP, and the Southern Gas Corridor carry not only economic but also regional and global significance.
The export of Azerbaijan’s energy resources to world and European markets via Turkey is crucial from the perspective of diversifying energy supply. To increase the economic and strategic power of the Turkic world, interconnecting transport and energy infrastructure is vital. Railways, highways, ports, energy lines, electrical interconnections, and digital infrastructure are the core elements of this process,” K. U. Yilmaz emphasized.
The expert noted that the Middle Corridor should also be evaluated not merely as a trade route, but as an essential part of a broader economic and strategic connection. According to him, energy and transport corridors complement one another, and their security requires a unified approach.
K. U. Yilmaz drew attention to the fact that the OTS possesses significant opportunities in this area. He stated that Azerbaijan’s access to the Caspian Sea, the energy potential of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan’s production capabilities, and Turkey’s position for access to European markets complement each other.
The expert also emphasized that energy security is not limited to oil and natural gas. According to him, renewable energy, electricity transmission lines, and energy storage systems will be among the primary directions of cooperation in this field in the future.
“Turkey-Azerbaijan energy relations must be evaluated not only within the framework of existing projects, but also from the perspective of the energy system of the future. It is not just about delivering Azerbaijani gas to Turkey and Europe. The main issue is to form a secure and resilient economic artery stretching from the Caspian to Anatolia, and from Anatolia to Europe,” the expert stated.
In K. U. Yilmaz’s view, energy, transport, trade, and communication sectors must complement each other in the future security model of the Turkic world. He noted that one of the main opportunities facing the OTS is to strengthen these connections within a unified system framework.
